‘Amy Krouse Rosenthal: A Beauty Salon’ at Carrie Secrist Gallery, Kyle Mooney at Thalia Hall, and more things to do this week in Chicago

Kyle Mooney performs stand-up and sits for his odd short films at Thalia Hall Wednesday 7/12

Pitchfork Music Festival is just around the corner. Here's some of what's happening before the weekend of nonstop tunes begins:

Mon 7/10: Dion Boucicoult's arch 1841 comedy of manners London Assurance gets a spirited and fully committed production at City Lit (1020 W. Bryn Mawr). This story of bumbling boors, chiseling social climbers, and simpering fops gallivanting and scheming around the London countryside is crisply performed by a uniformly excellent cast. Their nimble way with this wordy text is a thing to behold and illustrates neatly why this play was such an influence on Oscar Wilde. Tonight is the first of only two Monday night performances. 7:30 PM, $12-$32

Mon 7/10: Black Ensemble is bringing sexy back for the ninth year during its annual Sex in the Summer Series at Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center (4450 N. Clark) with original, sensual new works from members of the Black Playwright's Initiative. 7 PM, $15-$20

From Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, published by Dutton

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Self-portrait (Stick Figure), 2016

Tue 7/11: In 2016, artist and author Amy Krouse Rosenthal conceived of a different sort of "beauty salon": a "forum where artists, authors, musicians, and others would convene to talk about and work on the beautiful things they were making." In tribute to "AKR," who died in March, the new exhibit "AKR: A Beauty Salon" at Carrie Secrist Gallery (835 W. Washington) celebrates creativity and artistry with a re-creation of Rosenthal’s favorite coffee shop, pop-up yoga classes, a temporary tattoo parlor, and more. 10:30 AM-6 PM, free

Tue 7/11: Chicago-bred author Daryl Gregory swings by Book Cellar (4736 N. Lincoln) to read from his new novel, Spoonbenders—the story of a family running the talk-show circuit with incredible acts like astral projection. 7 PM, free

Tommaso Boddi

Kyle Mooney performs stand-up and sits for his odd short films at Thalia Hall Wednesday 7/12